Convicted journalist's appeal “lost” in court

The Tsentralny district court of Minsk refused to hear Pavel Svyardlou's case.

On June 25, Euroradio journalist Pavel Svyardlou filed an appeal against the judgement of the Maskouski district court that sentenced him to 15 days in custody on June 22. However, the city court has not received the documents. In accordance with the rules, he handed in the appeal to the administration of a detention centre. The appeal was supposed to be sent to the city police department by a courier and then to the court by a courier. The city police department received the document, but it wasn't delivered to the court, the Tsentralny district court says.

If journalist's appeal is not found, the city court will hear only an appeal by Svyardlou's lawyer.

An appeal by Tell the Truth campaign activist Pavel Vinahradau was delivered to the court on June 26.

Appeals by Pavel Vinahradau and Alyaksandr Artsybashau, who were sentenced on June 22, are heard today, June 29, in the Tsentralny district court.